Chapter 1

The suffocating sensation suddenly vanished.

I jolted awake, gasping for breath. The familiar pain wracked my body, and the metallic scent of blood filled my nose.

I shot upright. "My baby... My baby!"

The sight before me made my entire body tremble. There were two babies in the room. One lay beside me, while a maid was carrying the other away.

When the maid saw that I was awake, she visibly trembled and hurried toward the door.

Before she could escape, I grabbed her arm. I clenched my teeth as my gaze darted to the baby beside me and landed on the red mole beneath his eye.

This was that ungrateful wretch from my past life!

With my free hand, I seized the swaddled baby in the maid's arms and screamed, "Let go!"

"My Lady..." She struggled desperately, dragging me off the bed in her attempt to break free.

A dull pain tore through my lower body, followed by a sudden rush of blood.

The maid paled in fright and loosened her grip. I seized the opportunity and snatched the baby back.

Frantically, I checked the tiny body. Once I was certain, tears poured down my face. "It's a girl. It really is a girl! How dare you!"

At my words, the maid dropped to her knees.

The commotion brought Gideon rushing into the room. He shoved open the door, and disbelief flashed across his face when he saw me awake.

Then he noticed the blood beneath me, and panic seized him. "What happened? Get the physician! Send for the physician now!"

I stared at him, stunned by the frantic look on his face.

My fingernails dug into my palms as hatred surged through my chest like a rising tide.

In my previous life, he had gone off to war for three years, and we'd barely seen each other during that time. I'd waited desperately for his return, only for him to use his dying breath to beg for that royal decree.

All reason deserted me.

I opened my mouth to confront him, but Clara Reinhart walked in. "Penelope! You just gave birth. How can you get out of bed? Be careful or you'll catch a cold!"

Gideon immediately let go of my hand and rose to his feet. He carefully reached out to steady her.

The sight stabbed at my heart once more.

My gaze fell on Clara's slightly rounded belly, then on the headband wrapped around her forehead. In that instant, I understood everything.

Clara noticed me staring, and guilt flashed across her face.

"My headaches have been acting up, so I couldn't stay by your side the entire time," she hurriedly explained. "Come on, get back into bed."

She nervously reached out to help me, but the moment she saw the two babies, her hand trembled.

Her gaze instinctively darted toward Gideon.

That single glance said far too much.

Back then, Gideon had been stationed in the Northern Wastes, but he had refused to let me accompany him.

"The winds and sand are brutal there. You won't be able to bear it," he had claimed.

Clara had constantly reassured me too. "His Majesty ordered me to accompany the army as a physician. I can keep an eye on him for you, so you can stay here and take care of yourself without worrying."

I hadn't wanted to accept the arrangement, but Clara wore down my resistance with her repeated persuasion. Eventually, I let my guard down.

It wasn't until I was close to giving birth that Gideon brought me to the Northern Wastes. He told me he couldn't bear the thought of not being by my side when I gave birth.

I never imagined it had all been part of his plan to switch our children.

Hatred sharpened my thoughts. I pointed at the maid and told Gideon about the child-switching scheme, then stared straight into his eyes.

"If that's the case, guards, take her away and torture her until she talks!"

With that order, Gideon pulled me into his arms and gently tried to soothe me.

But bitterness consumed my heart. What I'd believed was a deep and loving marriage had been nothing more than an elaborate performance, and Gideon had played his part beautifully.

There had been a year when I'd fallen gravely ill while he was stationed at the frontier.

Half-conscious with fever, I'd opened my eyes to find him standing before me, coaxing me to get up and eat some brownies. "They're still warm. They're from The Good Bakes in the western district, your favorite."

I had thought I was dreaming. But when I reached out and touched him, his skin was warm beneath my fingers.

Only later did I learn that he had ridden three horses to death to make it back to me.

How could a husband who had loved me so deeply have built another family behind my back with my dearest friend?

Clara's voice pulled me from my memories. "But the baby's still so young. He's innocent in all this. How about this, Penelope? You can raise him too. I don't plan to marry anyone in the future anyway. Just treat him as my son."

I resisted the urge to expose her lie and nodded in agreement. Gideon's people were everywhere. Turning against them now would do me no good.

The two of them stayed and comforted me for a long while. Only after they finally left did I have the chance to take a proper look at my daughter.

Tears welled in my eyes again.

I lifted her tiny hand to my lips and kissed it. "Your mother will take you home. I'll make sure you're safe for the rest of your life."

Then I blew the dragon whistle that man had given me and summoned the hidden guard who had come to deliver a message.

"Has your master left?" I asked.